Nilima Thapa
Sunday 29 November 2009
Friday 20 November 2009
'Jai Ho' by The Pussycat dolls ft. A R Rahman
This is a music video similar to our idea. The costume that Nicole from "pussycat dolls" wears in this music video is similar to what Chaiya will be wearing in our music video. The locations like the train platform and the streets are same and group of people dancing in both music videos.
Nilima Thapa
This is a music video similar to our idea. The costume that Nicole from "pussycat dolls" wears in this music video is similar to what Chaiya will be wearing in our music video. The locations like the train platform and the streets are same and group of people dancing in both music videos.
Nilima Thapa
Thursday 19 November 2009
Recce!!
Train Station in Hatch End we might be using.
Experimenting shot of reflective object....,
Establishing shot of high street in Hatch End!
Right-side view of Sea Pebbles fish n chips shop,
front view of Sea Pebbles fish n chips shop,
left side view of the chips shop....,
Inside the fish n chips shop.
Inside the fish n chips shop where we will be filming...,
Establishing shot of the fish n chips shop we might use.
South Harrow train platform.
Photographs taken by Nilima Thapa
Monday 16 November 2009
Thursday 12 November 2009
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Institutional context & Professional practice
Professional Job Roles
Producer
Producers are motivated individuals that have the full responsibility of the film production. They become involved in the project, participate in the post production, marketing and distribution. They turn the ideas in to the cinema entertainment and persuade others around to agree and involved into the idea/ creative vision. They bring together screenwriters, director, cast, fiancés and a production team. They are involved on the four phases of production development, pre-production, production, post-production and marketing. They have to be ready to take any risks and identify hazards and also be excellent communicators, businessmen, strategists, motivator’s negotiators and have the ability to spot and deal with all the problems that may occur during the production. Also to have knowledge of cinematic creativity and negativity, screenwriting, editing, camera work, directing and composing music… they also have producer assistants.
Director
The Director has the creative force in the production. They are responsible for creating and translating the script into actual images and sounds on the screen, they act as both story teller and the team leader who bring visual ideas into reality. There main jobs are casting, script editing, shot composition and selection. They also work with editors throughout the process of editing. Directors have to have creative vision, commitment, and dedication and have many creative skills. They are also responsible for the technical aspects for example, the lighting, camera work, editing, sound, design and special effects department. They supervise the camera team and editor.
Directors should have an exceptional artistic vision. They should be strong and confident leader. They should be able to make decisions and collaborate with others. They should have an excellent communication skills. They should be able to inspire and motivate the team. They should be able to remain calm and think clearly under pressure. Most importantly, they should be determined to succeed.
Cameraperson (operator)
A camera operator can work with digital, electronic and film camera, producing pictures for directors combining technology with visual skills. They work under a directory of photography, in charge of lighting and have a camera assistant who sets up tripods, lighting cables, leads, headphones and monitors. Also offering advice on best shots, planning shots, stud scripts, practice positions/ pre-arrange shots. They plan shots, when filming an expensive drama scene, such as an explosion, there is only one chance to get things right so shots need to be planned beforehand. Practicing required positions for pre-arranged shots, studying scripts. Also finding solution s to technical difficulties, taking instructions and following them work quickly and taking responsibility of camera operated work, keeping up to date with method and equipment, repairing damaged equipment, knowledge of safety regulation…
The work is based in two settings:
1) Multi camera studio or location
2) In a single camera studio or location
Personal qualities:
1) A keen eye for detail
2) Reliability
3) Perfectionism
4) The ability to listen to others
5) Excellent communication skills
Video editor
The film/videotape editor works in the post production editing suite, putting together the sequence and final product of the film which are form the shots form the raw camera footage. The editor has to produce a quality and skilled final product. The use of computers or videotape pictures are compressed, digitalised and stored on the computer. All editors are trained to do this. They need to have a keen eye for detail, reality, perfectionism, ability to listen to others and excellent communication skills. They also look very close and work with the director constantly.
Video editing involves two stages online editing and offline editing. Offline editing is where raw footage is assembled in an offline suite where cheap equipment is used compared to the online suite. All the cuts and rushes are imputed on the computer and finally stored into files. Digital rough cuts are rearranged and sorted and an editing decision list, which is the visual script for the online edit is drawn up in the end.
During the online editing process in the final stage involves the online editor who has the job/ responsibility to polish the final creation. Working with high cost equipment, this stage produces the finest quality of work. Editing the rushes according to the editor’s EDL, adding any special effects and colouring… is done to make it a perfect final product.
Institutional context
Independent labels have a long history of promoting developments in popular music, stretching back to the post-war period in the United States, with labels such as Sun Records, King Records, Stax, etc.
In the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, the major record companies had so much power that independent labels struggled to become established. Several British producers and artists launched independent labels as outlets for their work and artists they liked, but the majority failed as commercial were out-taken by the majors.
with our research on Bhangra music, we feel it is situated under 'Indie' type music, as the record labels and artist are well known and independent. They were only founded through their traditional cultures, for example Bollywood music. Dr Zeus being an indie artist, gained stardom through famous singles around the world. Dr Zeus’ career began in 1999, when he was signed to the Envy music label based in Birmingham, UK. Dr Zeus is the stage name of Baljit Singh Nada. He is a Punjabi music producer, who gained stardom in India for his hit song “Kangna” in late 2003. Not only does he have a huge fan base in India, but also in many countries such as the US and other large Punjabi markets.
Sources- http://www.freebase.com/view/en/indie_rock
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=143486
Chaiya Varsani
Producer
Producers are motivated individuals that have the full responsibility of the film production. They become involved in the project, participate in the post production, marketing and distribution. They turn the ideas in to the cinema entertainment and persuade others around to agree and involved into the idea/ creative vision. They bring together screenwriters, director, cast, fiancés and a production team. They are involved on the four phases of production development, pre-production, production, post-production and marketing. They have to be ready to take any risks and identify hazards and also be excellent communicators, businessmen, strategists, motivator’s negotiators and have the ability to spot and deal with all the problems that may occur during the production. Also to have knowledge of cinematic creativity and negativity, screenwriting, editing, camera work, directing and composing music… they also have producer assistants.
Director
The Director has the creative force in the production. They are responsible for creating and translating the script into actual images and sounds on the screen, they act as both story teller and the team leader who bring visual ideas into reality. There main jobs are casting, script editing, shot composition and selection. They also work with editors throughout the process of editing. Directors have to have creative vision, commitment, and dedication and have many creative skills. They are also responsible for the technical aspects for example, the lighting, camera work, editing, sound, design and special effects department. They supervise the camera team and editor.
Directors should have an exceptional artistic vision. They should be strong and confident leader. They should be able to make decisions and collaborate with others. They should have an excellent communication skills. They should be able to inspire and motivate the team. They should be able to remain calm and think clearly under pressure. Most importantly, they should be determined to succeed.
Cameraperson (operator)
A camera operator can work with digital, electronic and film camera, producing pictures for directors combining technology with visual skills. They work under a directory of photography, in charge of lighting and have a camera assistant who sets up tripods, lighting cables, leads, headphones and monitors. Also offering advice on best shots, planning shots, stud scripts, practice positions/ pre-arrange shots. They plan shots, when filming an expensive drama scene, such as an explosion, there is only one chance to get things right so shots need to be planned beforehand. Practicing required positions for pre-arranged shots, studying scripts. Also finding solution s to technical difficulties, taking instructions and following them work quickly and taking responsibility of camera operated work, keeping up to date with method and equipment, repairing damaged equipment, knowledge of safety regulation…
The work is based in two settings:
1) Multi camera studio or location
2) In a single camera studio or location
Personal qualities:
1) A keen eye for detail
2) Reliability
3) Perfectionism
4) The ability to listen to others
5) Excellent communication skills
Video editor
The film/videotape editor works in the post production editing suite, putting together the sequence and final product of the film which are form the shots form the raw camera footage. The editor has to produce a quality and skilled final product. The use of computers or videotape pictures are compressed, digitalised and stored on the computer. All editors are trained to do this. They need to have a keen eye for detail, reality, perfectionism, ability to listen to others and excellent communication skills. They also look very close and work with the director constantly.
Video editing involves two stages online editing and offline editing. Offline editing is where raw footage is assembled in an offline suite where cheap equipment is used compared to the online suite. All the cuts and rushes are imputed on the computer and finally stored into files. Digital rough cuts are rearranged and sorted and an editing decision list, which is the visual script for the online edit is drawn up in the end.
During the online editing process in the final stage involves the online editor who has the job/ responsibility to polish the final creation. Working with high cost equipment, this stage produces the finest quality of work. Editing the rushes according to the editor’s EDL, adding any special effects and colouring… is done to make it a perfect final product.
Institutional context
Independent labels have a long history of promoting developments in popular music, stretching back to the post-war period in the United States, with labels such as Sun Records, King Records, Stax, etc.
In the United Kingdom during the 1950s and 1960s, the major record companies had so much power that independent labels struggled to become established. Several British producers and artists launched independent labels as outlets for their work and artists they liked, but the majority failed as commercial were out-taken by the majors.
with our research on Bhangra music, we feel it is situated under 'Indie' type music, as the record labels and artist are well known and independent. They were only founded through their traditional cultures, for example Bollywood music. Dr Zeus being an indie artist, gained stardom through famous singles around the world. Dr Zeus’ career began in 1999, when he was signed to the Envy music label based in Birmingham, UK. Dr Zeus is the stage name of Baljit Singh Nada. He is a Punjabi music producer, who gained stardom in India for his hit song “Kangna” in late 2003. Not only does he have a huge fan base in India, but also in many countries such as the US and other large Punjabi markets.
Sources- http://www.freebase.com/view/en/indie_rock
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=143486
Chaiya Varsani
Picture diary...^^
Chaiya and Eleanor discussing about the proposal ideas for the song.
Eleanor: "This video is going to be amazing, these ideas are great!"
Chaiya: "Yes they are... but i think we should be a bit more realistic Eleanor Folivi!"
the picture: Chaiya, Eleanor and Nilima...heading home from recce!
Producer, Chaiya: " would the driver like to take the gear up a notch, we have people to see, places to go and people to film!!!"
Editor, Eleanor: "screw this filming i fancy a smokey bacon sandwich from Tesco"...
Director, Nilima: "nobody want's to sit next to me" ...'Lonely' (8), by Akon (plays in the background)
Chaiya and Nilima working hard on the blog!!!
Here the Similar text analysis with the youtube videos were put up, and the pictures of us as a group...
The Producer, Chaiya trying hard to contact Eleanor, to find out why she missed the meeting, a day before the shoot. "Oh my goddd!!! pick up the phone will you, today would be nice!"
We later got through to her and she was feeling unwell, but was all prepared for the shooting, that was to take place on Saturday.
The director takes on the role of the Camera person for a moment, towards the end of our first day, showing her skills on the train shot, at south harrow station.
Our crew after shooting, all happy with their hard work, finally ready to edit the shots later.
Chaiya giving thumbs up, "it was all good, i think i make a great actor".
Eleanor trying to call her mate, to tell her the exciting news.
Nilima, with the camera and tripod, feeling releived after carrying that heavy load.
Here are a few of our lovley casts...
Miracle our happy and helpful actress, who had fun in the park, shooting with Eleanor Folivi.. Although we had a couple of problems, trying to get mricale to work with us, che did a great job :)
Here is a sketch of the costume and accessories our dancers wore on the shot
Our four lovely dancers... before make-up...ready to show of the skills and they looked great on the set, in the dance studio, whimotre high school... ....heehee. " we all had such fun dancing and acting for the video".
from top left to bottom right->>Nilima (director/asist. cameraperson), Neha, Reena and Rajvi
Ramin and Sriram, our "chai walas and assistants", helping out to hold the gear... here they are testing the straightners for the dancers..."it's all good guys, eveything is working"...
Our main star getting ready for the dance shoot and having a chat with the editor. Eleanor!
Eleanor... "You look beautiful, eveything is ready for the shoot... i just won an argument with the pe teacher, we got the hall woo"...
TA-DA!! the star is all ready for the exciting dance shoot...
On set with the crew, dancers and helpers, in the girls gym hall, shooting the dance sequence... its looks all tense, but exciting...
The editor and camera person working very hard to get it all together... Then Eleanor deciding to do an all nighter in the editing suite... :O
The next day... the Director comes to the suite, finally getting all the great shots together. The Director and Editor discussing how to make the sequence work great to the beat...
Working on the dvd cover, making the final stages...
Chaiya: "i think my face needs ajusting in this cover"
Nilima: "no shushh. this looks wiked now... were all done..."
Photographs taken by Nilima Thapa
Edited by Chaiya Varsani
Monday 9 November 2009
Subjet matter research
Song name: Ah ni kuriyey remix
Genre: Bhangra (sub-genre: hip hop)
Artist of the remix: Dr Zeus
The original songs that are mixed are “Aa ni kuriye” by singer Kuldip Rasila and “temperature” by hip hop artist Sean Paul.
Dr Zeus is the stage name of Baljit Singh. He is a Punjabi music producer. He gained stardom in India in late 2003. He has huge fan base in India, US, the UK, Canada and other large Punjabi markets. His career began at 1999 when he was signed to the Envy music label based in Birmingham, UK.
Bhangra music originated from the Punjabi region of India and Pakistan. It began as a folk dance to celebrate the coming of spring. Traditional Bhangra music is a blend of beat of the 'Dhol' drum, a single-stringed instrument called 'Ektara', the 'Tumbi' and the 'Chimta'. The lyrics are in Punjabi language called the 'Bolis'. The lyrics relate to issues faced by the singer and what they really want to say from the heart. During the last thirty years, bhangra has risen in popularity in its traditional form and as fusion with genres like hip hop, house and reggae.
Bhangra music got popular in UK during the 1980s when there was a major migration of Sikh Punjabis to the UK.
There are lots of different Bhangra dance moves developed from different parts of the Punjab region. Typically, Bhangra dance moves are very energetic. Bhangra outfit for men consists of 'Kurta', a long Indian style shirt, a 'Pugdee' (turban on their head) and 'Chadraa', a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. In the modern days, there are more items to the outfits.
I have looked at several Bhangra music videos such as “Hogeya sharabi” by Punjabi
MC, “Back unda da influence” by Dr Zeus. The music videos of Bhangra songs are mostly performance based. There are lots of close-up shots of the artist usually lip syncing to the song and the artist does the popular Bhangra hand movements. There are usually a lot of people in the videos dancing Bhangra style but some videos especially the remix songs have club dance and modern dance moves. Some songs that are narrative-based, there is an actor miming to the words of the song and acting it out. Most of the original Bhangra music videos have someone playing the 'Dhol'. The videos have lots of quick cuts and pans since the song normally is very energetic. In the remix songs, the outfits the artist and the people in the music video are modern and not typical Punjabi outfits.
I have concluded that in our video, we should also have lots of people and colourful and energetic vibes from the casts following the conventions of Punjabi music videos. Since our song is also a remix we do not need to worry about traditional Punjabi dress. The people can be wearing casual clothing e.g. jeans and shirt. However, a representation of Punjabi culture would be following the conventions.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tIy5LAAmA , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_1blzkDN_Y
Nilima Thapa
Genre: Bhangra (sub-genre: hip hop)
Artist of the remix: Dr Zeus
The original songs that are mixed are “Aa ni kuriye” by singer Kuldip Rasila and “temperature” by hip hop artist Sean Paul.
Dr Zeus is the stage name of Baljit Singh. He is a Punjabi music producer. He gained stardom in India in late 2003. He has huge fan base in India, US, the UK, Canada and other large Punjabi markets. His career began at 1999 when he was signed to the Envy music label based in Birmingham, UK.
Bhangra music originated from the Punjabi region of India and Pakistan. It began as a folk dance to celebrate the coming of spring. Traditional Bhangra music is a blend of beat of the 'Dhol' drum, a single-stringed instrument called 'Ektara', the 'Tumbi' and the 'Chimta'. The lyrics are in Punjabi language called the 'Bolis'. The lyrics relate to issues faced by the singer and what they really want to say from the heart. During the last thirty years, bhangra has risen in popularity in its traditional form and as fusion with genres like hip hop, house and reggae.
Bhangra music got popular in UK during the 1980s when there was a major migration of Sikh Punjabis to the UK.
There are lots of different Bhangra dance moves developed from different parts of the Punjab region. Typically, Bhangra dance moves are very energetic. Bhangra outfit for men consists of 'Kurta', a long Indian style shirt, a 'Pugdee' (turban on their head) and 'Chadraa', a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. In the modern days, there are more items to the outfits.
I have looked at several Bhangra music videos such as “Hogeya sharabi” by Punjabi
MC, “Back unda da influence” by Dr Zeus. The music videos of Bhangra songs are mostly performance based. There are lots of close-up shots of the artist usually lip syncing to the song and the artist does the popular Bhangra hand movements. There are usually a lot of people in the videos dancing Bhangra style but some videos especially the remix songs have club dance and modern dance moves. Some songs that are narrative-based, there is an actor miming to the words of the song and acting it out. Most of the original Bhangra music videos have someone playing the 'Dhol'. The videos have lots of quick cuts and pans since the song normally is very energetic. In the remix songs, the outfits the artist and the people in the music video are modern and not typical Punjabi outfits.I have concluded that in our video, we should also have lots of people and colourful and energetic vibes from the casts following the conventions of Punjabi music videos. Since our song is also a remix we do not need to worry about traditional Punjabi dress. The people can be wearing casual clothing e.g. jeans and shirt. However, a representation of Punjabi culture would be following the conventions.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00tIy5LAAmA , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_1blzkDN_Y
Nilima Thapa
Saturday 7 November 2009
Questionnaire- music video
1) What is your favourite music genre?
…………………………………………………….
2) Who is you favourite artist?
……………………………………………………….
3) Do music videos inspire you? Give an example of a video/ artist that does inspire
you.
Yes No
Example ………………………………………………………………….
4) Do music videos promote crime and violence; if so give an example of a video/artist that does.
Yes No
Example ………………………………………………………………….
5) From the following times, how long do you think is a reasonable length of time for a music video?
1-3 minutes 3-5 minutes 5-7 minutes 7 minutes and over
6) Do you prefer the following for music video storylines/meanings?
Narrative Performance
7) Do you prefer lyrics or the background music in videos?
……………………………………………………………………….
8) Has your appreciation of music changed or have you always liked the same as you do now?
………………………………………………………………………….
9) What makes a music video eye-catching?
………………………………………………………………..
10) What do you dislike in music videos?
………………………………………………………………..
Representation
We have a huge representation scale due to the cultural aspect of our music video.
Asians
We are going to have Punjabi dancers wearing traditional clothes and dancing, this will represent them as talented people who have a lot of colour colourful and are not ashamed to show off their traditional dancing in the public eye. They would be very fun, energetic and outgoing.
Blacks
On the other hand the black girls will be represented as obnoxious, disrespectful girls who don’t care about the general public. They will be seen as very hyper as well as rude individuals. They would be dancing on the train making a lot of noise jumping on seats and making a lot of chaos. Because of the amount of noise they make they would be represented as annoying people. The clothes these girls will be wearing would be tight clothes, shorts and leggings to fit there attitudes.
Whites
The white people will first be seen as stuck up, annoyed and irritated. Although later in the music video they will begin to show their cool side when they have loosened up and let go. Because of the music that make people become hypnotised people are no longer in their autonomous state they are now in an agentic state where they have given up the free will and conscious to an authoritative figure, in this case it’s the music, therefore this ethnicity would be perceived as brainwashed and robotic and not themselves. They would be wearing working clothes as they are going to work. They would be holding newspapers and gadgets such as mobile phones.
Middle and Working class
We will also represent middle and working class. Due to the given circumstances such as Trains buses, food court/Pizza hut and the pedestrians on the road. They will be seen as simple casual people who are doing average day things such as waiting at a bus stop, queuing to pay parking tickets, waiting in the food cue representing the general population as laid back. Whereas if it was the upper class they would be in a posh restaurant ordering complicated meals, driving in really expensive cars and would not be seen on public transport. Everyday workers such as bus driver, train driver and pizza hut assistant would be represented as hard working and very committed and dedicated to their work. They would be wearing florescent type jackets or suits etc depending on their job.
Young people
The representation of young people would be easy going and fun. They look like their do anything not to be bored. They have no barriers or limits and will do as they wish just to make their lives that little bit more exciting. They would be wearing jogging bottoms, hoodies and typical street clothing.
Old People (e.g women)
Lastly the older people will be seen as grumpy and cautious of everything and get annoyed by the young people screaming and shouting. They would be wearing the average knitted jumper and stereotypical old people clothing.
Eleanor Folivi
Asians
We are going to have Punjabi dancers wearing traditional clothes and dancing, this will represent them as talented people who have a lot of colour colourful and are not ashamed to show off their traditional dancing in the public eye. They would be very fun, energetic and outgoing.
Blacks
On the other hand the black girls will be represented as obnoxious, disrespectful girls who don’t care about the general public. They will be seen as very hyper as well as rude individuals. They would be dancing on the train making a lot of noise jumping on seats and making a lot of chaos. Because of the amount of noise they make they would be represented as annoying people. The clothes these girls will be wearing would be tight clothes, shorts and leggings to fit there attitudes.
Whites
The white people will first be seen as stuck up, annoyed and irritated. Although later in the music video they will begin to show their cool side when they have loosened up and let go. Because of the music that make people become hypnotised people are no longer in their autonomous state they are now in an agentic state where they have given up the free will and conscious to an authoritative figure, in this case it’s the music, therefore this ethnicity would be perceived as brainwashed and robotic and not themselves. They would be wearing working clothes as they are going to work. They would be holding newspapers and gadgets such as mobile phones.
Middle and Working class
We will also represent middle and working class. Due to the given circumstances such as Trains buses, food court/Pizza hut and the pedestrians on the road. They will be seen as simple casual people who are doing average day things such as waiting at a bus stop, queuing to pay parking tickets, waiting in the food cue representing the general population as laid back. Whereas if it was the upper class they would be in a posh restaurant ordering complicated meals, driving in really expensive cars and would not be seen on public transport. Everyday workers such as bus driver, train driver and pizza hut assistant would be represented as hard working and very committed and dedicated to their work. They would be wearing florescent type jackets or suits etc depending on their job.
Young people
The representation of young people would be easy going and fun. They look like their do anything not to be bored. They have no barriers or limits and will do as they wish just to make their lives that little bit more exciting. They would be wearing jogging bottoms, hoodies and typical street clothing.
Old People (e.g women)
Lastly the older people will be seen as grumpy and cautious of everything and get annoyed by the young people screaming and shouting. They would be wearing the average knitted jumper and stereotypical old people clothing.
Eleanor Folivi
Interviews
Interviewer- Eleanor Folivi
Participant- Steve Yorris
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Something different and abstract, something out of the normal that isn’t repetitive as it were improvised. I think colours play a big role in whether the music video is eye catching or not because if it’s dull and boring colours obviously the colours will affect my mood negatively. Whereas if it were bright enthusiastic colours it will rub on my mood. And make it extra eye catching. Things that happen are random are really funny and catch me by surprise.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
No because that becomes more of a soap or something. I want to hear the music with assistants from the video but not to see a movie about it. Because then I have to sit their till the end to see what the whole video is about and that becomes time consuming. I prefer something that when I watch it over and over again it doesn’t get dull, if a music video has a narrative after once or twice of watching it becomes so uninteresting and would get quite tedious to be honest.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Everyday things, things that is so obvious that it becomes ridiculous. I want something that can catch me by surprise and excite me as appose to ‘I knew that was going to happen’. Anyone could get a recorder and record someone’s life to a backing track therefore I don’t like music videos like that it’s just boring. I wouldn’t want to see typical obvious characters like a woman in her 20’s pushing a buggy or an old nana in a cafe drinking a coffee.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
Not short that the video becomes unnecessary but not long that it drags my life on. It needs to be a medium length such as 2.30sec to like 3.00 min then it hasn’t taken up too much of my time but it has entertained me for a short amount of time. A video length that is totally out of this world is 6.00min that is just too long as well as overriding. Anything under 4 minutes is perfect and gets my vote.
Participant- Steve Yorris
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Something different and abstract, something out of the normal that isn’t repetitive as it were improvised. I think colours play a big role in whether the music video is eye catching or not because if it’s dull and boring colours obviously the colours will affect my mood negatively. Whereas if it were bright enthusiastic colours it will rub on my mood. And make it extra eye catching. Things that happen are random are really funny and catch me by surprise.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
No because that becomes more of a soap or something. I want to hear the music with assistants from the video but not to see a movie about it. Because then I have to sit their till the end to see what the whole video is about and that becomes time consuming. I prefer something that when I watch it over and over again it doesn’t get dull, if a music video has a narrative after once or twice of watching it becomes so uninteresting and would get quite tedious to be honest.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Everyday things, things that is so obvious that it becomes ridiculous. I want something that can catch me by surprise and excite me as appose to ‘I knew that was going to happen’. Anyone could get a recorder and record someone’s life to a backing track therefore I don’t like music videos like that it’s just boring. I wouldn’t want to see typical obvious characters like a woman in her 20’s pushing a buggy or an old nana in a cafe drinking a coffee.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
Not short that the video becomes unnecessary but not long that it drags my life on. It needs to be a medium length such as 2.30sec to like 3.00 min then it hasn’t taken up too much of my time but it has entertained me for a short amount of time. A video length that is totally out of this world is 6.00min that is just too long as well as overriding. Anything under 4 minutes is perfect and gets my vote.
Interviewer- Eleanor Folivi
Participant- Nikisha Chala
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Loads of things going on in one video. Rather than just one subject throughout. It keeps me intrigued and makes me want to keep watching. Glitz always gets me watching it brings some fantastic elements. The title usually always draws me in as well. Most importantly the music has to be bizarre and out there. I like seeing some elements of reality as well as some sort of comedy so i can crack joke about it to my friends later on and we can have a laugh for example Mariah Carey – Obsessed . Things that are strange always make it eye catching...you can tell when something is out there because it makes you point it out when you’re watching it.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
Yes, because it’s interesting and gets me into it, it makes me want to watch it until the end. It would be boring if I didn’t know what was going on or what the video was about. I even prefer narrative more because when the music doesn’t match the picture it doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t want to sit their working out what the whole video was about, I generally watch videos to enjoy rather than make it become a brain tease. I think if the artist is singing the storyline it becomes more personal and more real as if they were singing from the heart and as they sang the song i feel they should get recognition for it as well as the overall credit.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Inappropriate activities between males and females. As im a female I wouldn’t want to see half naked females on my television. It makes me uncomfortable and makes me reluctant to see the rest. I watch a music video because of the music not the stereotypical woman society says I should be. I also don’t like futuristic things they bore me in a way. I like up to date and relative things because it can make a hot topic to discuss later on with friends or in class or something. An example could be N-dubz some of the things are relatively relevant to my life so I can relate a whole lot more. Stupid immature things really make me hesitate when watching a music video like toy things and so on. There just irritating and look like they have been out there for the fun of it. Just too random and doesn’t make much sense to me in the slightest.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A short one because a long one is too time consuming I don’t want to sit there ages as I might get bored the shorter the better. I think after hearing the chorus about 3 times that’s enough I get the gist by then. I hate when the chorus keeps repeating it gets annoying. Anything beyond 5mins in a killer it just becomes a drag to be honest.
Participant- Nikisha Chala
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Loads of things going on in one video. Rather than just one subject throughout. It keeps me intrigued and makes me want to keep watching. Glitz always gets me watching it brings some fantastic elements. The title usually always draws me in as well. Most importantly the music has to be bizarre and out there. I like seeing some elements of reality as well as some sort of comedy so i can crack joke about it to my friends later on and we can have a laugh for example Mariah Carey – Obsessed . Things that are strange always make it eye catching...you can tell when something is out there because it makes you point it out when you’re watching it.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
Yes, because it’s interesting and gets me into it, it makes me want to watch it until the end. It would be boring if I didn’t know what was going on or what the video was about. I even prefer narrative more because when the music doesn’t match the picture it doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t want to sit their working out what the whole video was about, I generally watch videos to enjoy rather than make it become a brain tease. I think if the artist is singing the storyline it becomes more personal and more real as if they were singing from the heart and as they sang the song i feel they should get recognition for it as well as the overall credit.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Inappropriate activities between males and females. As im a female I wouldn’t want to see half naked females on my television. It makes me uncomfortable and makes me reluctant to see the rest. I watch a music video because of the music not the stereotypical woman society says I should be. I also don’t like futuristic things they bore me in a way. I like up to date and relative things because it can make a hot topic to discuss later on with friends or in class or something. An example could be N-dubz some of the things are relatively relevant to my life so I can relate a whole lot more. Stupid immature things really make me hesitate when watching a music video like toy things and so on. There just irritating and look like they have been out there for the fun of it. Just too random and doesn’t make much sense to me in the slightest.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A short one because a long one is too time consuming I don’t want to sit there ages as I might get bored the shorter the better. I think after hearing the chorus about 3 times that’s enough I get the gist by then. I hate when the chorus keeps repeating it gets annoying. Anything beyond 5mins in a killer it just becomes a drag to be honest.
Interviewer- Nilima Thapa
Participant- Rajvi Shah
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Lots of colour and dance makes a music video eye-catching. Good looking people that can act and dance also makes the video appealing. The video should not be repetitive as it gets boring and will lose viewers attention easily. An edited video should have something that no other video had had, to make it unique. I think that each video should have a special aspect to it that everyone will be able to remember. This aspect should resemble the song.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I do not like inappropriate sexual activity in a video. This is because it influences the way people think about the song. The video should go with the song. I they are about two different things the meaning of the song will not be clear. Repetition in videos, seeing the same thing again and again makes the video boring to watch.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make the video eye catching and use a lot of talented people in the video. There should be dance but it depends on what type of song is being made. For example if the music was slow, there shouldn’t be much of this idea compared to a faster song. I think that music videos should have something that is unique so everyone that watches it will be able to remember that specific aspect. For example, it could be a particular dance step that people can remember.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A narrative concept shows that the song has a meaning to it, so I think that it makes the video worthwhile to watch. You are able to follow the video without confusion and know that it has been simple as it has to be easy to understand. A complicated story will put the viewers off.
Participant- Rajvi Shah
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Lots of colour and dance makes a music video eye-catching. Good looking people that can act and dance also makes the video appealing. The video should not be repetitive as it gets boring and will lose viewers attention easily. An edited video should have something that no other video had had, to make it unique. I think that each video should have a special aspect to it that everyone will be able to remember. This aspect should resemble the song.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I do not like inappropriate sexual activity in a video. This is because it influences the way people think about the song. The video should go with the song. I they are about two different things the meaning of the song will not be clear. Repetition in videos, seeing the same thing again and again makes the video boring to watch.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make the video eye catching and use a lot of talented people in the video. There should be dance but it depends on what type of song is being made. For example if the music was slow, there shouldn’t be much of this idea compared to a faster song. I think that music videos should have something that is unique so everyone that watches it will be able to remember that specific aspect. For example, it could be a particular dance step that people can remember.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A narrative concept shows that the song has a meaning to it, so I think that it makes the video worthwhile to watch. You are able to follow the video without confusion and know that it has been simple as it has to be easy to understand. A complicated story will put the viewers off.
Interviewer- Nilima Thapa
Participant- Anaraj Thapa
Target Audience Research: Interview 2
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
The video must suit the music. I mean the editing should be in time with the beats and the song should be good. Energetic dance moves or a silly, funny one can be eye-catching. If the narrative relates to me and my situation, then I would watch it. I like hip hop dance so I would watch a video where they are street dancing, poping and locking. Long but thoughtful music videos would also be a good one. I would also watch if it shows current issues in society like poverty, domestic abuse or the story of “Madeleine” but obviously it won’t be effective if the directing and the editing aren’t very good.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I dislike music videos with too much violence because a kid might copy it and also because it makes me all moody and sick. I dislike videos that portray abusive behaviours in a positive way. And music videos that repeat the same old story like any other old music videos. I dislike videos like Mariah Carey’s “touch my body”, it is quite vulgar and I think music video should not contain vulgar scenes because if they do so what’s the point of movies being rated and putting curfews on them when the music videos are shown on TV at daytime and kids can see it.
3) If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make a video that would be knowledgeable, more peaceful and with touching performances. I would produce a music video for a good cause or about the current issues and what would make the situation better for e.g. racism is something I face a lot so I would make a video about celebrating our differences all together. I would make a well known fairy tale into a modernised version for e.g. make the princesses more independent than dependant on their princes. I would also have a video of beautiful sceneries from all around the world like the night lights on Christmas and the Himalayas at the break of dawn.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video? Could you give me any examples of music videos you have watched and like?
Yes, because it tells you a story in 4 minutes; it’s like movies in 4 minutes.
“I don’t wanna miss a thing” by Aerosmith
Participant- Anaraj Thapa
Target Audience Research: Interview 2
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
The video must suit the music. I mean the editing should be in time with the beats and the song should be good. Energetic dance moves or a silly, funny one can be eye-catching. If the narrative relates to me and my situation, then I would watch it. I like hip hop dance so I would watch a video where they are street dancing, poping and locking. Long but thoughtful music videos would also be a good one. I would also watch if it shows current issues in society like poverty, domestic abuse or the story of “Madeleine” but obviously it won’t be effective if the directing and the editing aren’t very good.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I dislike music videos with too much violence because a kid might copy it and also because it makes me all moody and sick. I dislike videos that portray abusive behaviours in a positive way. And music videos that repeat the same old story like any other old music videos. I dislike videos like Mariah Carey’s “touch my body”, it is quite vulgar and I think music video should not contain vulgar scenes because if they do so what’s the point of movies being rated and putting curfews on them when the music videos are shown on TV at daytime and kids can see it.
3) If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make a video that would be knowledgeable, more peaceful and with touching performances. I would produce a music video for a good cause or about the current issues and what would make the situation better for e.g. racism is something I face a lot so I would make a video about celebrating our differences all together. I would make a well known fairy tale into a modernised version for e.g. make the princesses more independent than dependant on their princes. I would also have a video of beautiful sceneries from all around the world like the night lights on Christmas and the Himalayas at the break of dawn.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video? Could you give me any examples of music videos you have watched and like?
Yes, because it tells you a story in 4 minutes; it’s like movies in 4 minutes.
“I don’t wanna miss a thing” by Aerosmith
Interviewer- Chaiya Varsani
Participant- Sriram Kandasamy
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1) What makes a music video eye-catching?
The moves a dance moves in the video can be great, if they are talented and unique. Its great to watch and very entertaining. The topic with the song and the theme of the music. The storyline has to be interesting so it’s east to understand the music and video. The music itself has to be great quality and entertaining if it is edited in interesting way, this makes it fun to watch and exciting. The actors and people in the video should be reasonably good, to catch your eye, for example they coupled be good looking which would be nice sometimes or just very good acting in certain areas to express emotion or a story. The shots shouldn’t be repetitive and depending on the music, different cuts and shots would be really cool.
2) What do you dislike in a music video and why?
When women are represented in a sexual way, too much flesh shown, short clothes or sometimes hardly any, are seen a lot. Sometimes the use of inappropriate physical contact can be dangerous and have a bad influence on viewers, especially if they are young.
The type of music for example heavy metal/rock videos have to fit well with a good video, meaning having more extreme idea compared to having a slow video, with peaceful shots. Random videos, without meanings can be irritating and awful to watch sometimes, which ruins the song.
3) If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Depending on the type of music genre it is, for example hip or Rnb, dance music… would be great for party idea video theme, using talented dancers, flashing lights, reflected to the type of music and mood it gives. In videos it’s great to use all types of people. Also the idea of using different shots from different angles and areas, using many effects, gives it more excitement. Setting the ideas on the emotions are great to link them with what the actors in the video do, for example sad songs, with people hurt or crying, or upbeat music with more dance ideas.
Using special effects, black and white, lighting etc, makes a music video very fun to watch these days, especially if the music is good.
4) Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
When there is a narrative in the music video, it makes it interesting and easy to follow/ enjoy as you understand what it is about. It also gives the video a more dramatic feeling. If the song has an important message for viewers, for example to stop knife crime, violence, drugs… to show its bad side and dangers, than the video would bring better approach and better understanding for viewers with this narrative concept, so they can understand the meaning straight away and it’s importance.
Participant- Sriram Kandasamy
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1) What makes a music video eye-catching?
The moves a dance moves in the video can be great, if they are talented and unique. Its great to watch and very entertaining. The topic with the song and the theme of the music. The storyline has to be interesting so it’s east to understand the music and video. The music itself has to be great quality and entertaining if it is edited in interesting way, this makes it fun to watch and exciting. The actors and people in the video should be reasonably good, to catch your eye, for example they coupled be good looking which would be nice sometimes or just very good acting in certain areas to express emotion or a story. The shots shouldn’t be repetitive and depending on the music, different cuts and shots would be really cool.
2) What do you dislike in a music video and why?
When women are represented in a sexual way, too much flesh shown, short clothes or sometimes hardly any, are seen a lot. Sometimes the use of inappropriate physical contact can be dangerous and have a bad influence on viewers, especially if they are young.
The type of music for example heavy metal/rock videos have to fit well with a good video, meaning having more extreme idea compared to having a slow video, with peaceful shots. Random videos, without meanings can be irritating and awful to watch sometimes, which ruins the song.
3) If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
Depending on the type of music genre it is, for example hip or Rnb, dance music… would be great for party idea video theme, using talented dancers, flashing lights, reflected to the type of music and mood it gives. In videos it’s great to use all types of people. Also the idea of using different shots from different angles and areas, using many effects, gives it more excitement. Setting the ideas on the emotions are great to link them with what the actors in the video do, for example sad songs, with people hurt or crying, or upbeat music with more dance ideas.
Using special effects, black and white, lighting etc, makes a music video very fun to watch these days, especially if the music is good.
4) Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
When there is a narrative in the music video, it makes it interesting and easy to follow/ enjoy as you understand what it is about. It also gives the video a more dramatic feeling. If the song has an important message for viewers, for example to stop knife crime, violence, drugs… to show its bad side and dangers, than the video would bring better approach and better understanding for viewers with this narrative concept, so they can understand the meaning straight away and it’s importance.
Interviewer- Chaiya Varsani
Participant- Reena Tailor
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Lots of colour and dance makes a music video eye-catching. Good looking people that can act and dance also makes the video appealing. The video should not be repetitive as it gets boring and will lose viewers attention easily. An edited video should have something that no other video had had, to make it unique. I think that each video should have a special aspect to it that everyone will be able to remember. This aspect should resemble the song.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I do not like inappropriate sexual activity in a video. This is because it influences the way people think about the song. The video should go with the song. I they are about two different things the meaning of the song will not be clear. Repetition in videos, seeing the same thing again and again makes the video boring to watch.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make the video eye catching and use a lot of talented people in the video. There should be dance but it depends on what type of song is being made. For example if the music was slow, there shouldn’t be much of this idea compared to a faster song. I think that music videos should have something that is unique so everyone that watches it will be able to remember that specific aspect. For example, it could be a particular dance step that people can remember.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A narrative concept shows that the song has a meaning to it, so I think that it makes the video worthwhile to watch. You are able to follow the video without confusion and know that it has been simple as it has to be easy to understand. A complicated story will put the viewers off.
Participant- Reena Tailor
Target Audience Research: Interview 1
1)What makes a music video eye-catching?
Lots of colour and dance makes a music video eye-catching. Good looking people that can act and dance also makes the video appealing. The video should not be repetitive as it gets boring and will lose viewers attention easily. An edited video should have something that no other video had had, to make it unique. I think that each video should have a special aspect to it that everyone will be able to remember. This aspect should resemble the song.
2)What do you dislike in a music video and why?
I do not like inappropriate sexual activity in a video. This is because it influences the way people think about the song. The video should go with the song. I they are about two different things the meaning of the song will not be clear. Repetition in videos, seeing the same thing again and again makes the video boring to watch.
3)If you had to produce a music video, what interesting ideas would you add in?
I would make the video eye catching and use a lot of talented people in the video. There should be dance but it depends on what type of song is being made. For example if the music was slow, there shouldn’t be much of this idea compared to a faster song. I think that music videos should have something that is unique so everyone that watches it will be able to remember that specific aspect. For example, it could be a particular dance step that people can remember.
4)Do you like a narrative concept in a music video?
A narrative concept shows that the song has a meaning to it, so I think that it makes the video worthwhile to watch. You are able to follow the video without confusion and know that it has been simple as it has to be easy to understand. A complicated story will put the viewers off.
Eleanor Folivi
Evaluation for audience feedback
From our secondary research we created 10 questionnaires to refer back to for our audience feedback and help us with ideas for our music video, which will interest the audience more as it will follow what they prefer in music videos. This will be useful top use their opinions so our music video appeals to them and is entertaining too. Most of our audience preferred Rnb, hip-hop and rock music. They did not have a specific artist, but did refer back to their favourite genres. Most people where inspired by music videos only depending on the artist, for example Michael Jackson and other artist that had meaning and could relate to issues with the audience, was why these artists inspired their audience. The Artists that have promoted crime and violence, where mainly 50 cent and Eminem. This is because they have demonstrated crime, violence and drugs in their videos. A reasonable length of time for a music video was 3-5 minutes.
Inspired by the fact that our audience preferred performance type videos, meaning the way it is shown. For example; dancing and interesting clips, instead of telling the story line with the vocals. Having background music compared is important for song than lyrics and would only be good if they had a meaning towards them. Overtime music/videos has changed and developed for viewing because of new technology. This why most of our audience thought effects, lighting, glamour, dancing and creative ideas make a music videos eye-catching. Finally our audience felt that a music video with no storyline/ meaning, bad representation of women, as they are seen sexual would make the music video negative. This research was useful in us decide what our target audience prefer in videos and how they can be improved.
The interviews we realised what audience would prefer and what would make out music video more appealing, by including and excluding certain things. In order to make a music video eye catching it would need dancing, colour, talent makes it entertaining and unique. The storyline has to be interesting so it’s east to understand the music and video. The music itself has to be great quality and entertaining if it is edited in interesting way, this makes it fun to watch and exciting. The actors and people in the video should be reasonably good, acting in certain areas to express emotion or a story. The shots should not be repetitive and depending on the music, different cuts and shots would be really. I think that each video should have a special aspect to it that everyone will be able to remember. This aspect should resemble the song.
Things to exclude from a video would be showing less shots of women represented in a sexual way, too much flesh shown, short clothes or sometimes hardly any, are seen a lot. Sometimes the use of inappropriate physical contact can be dangerous and have a bad influence on viewers, especially if they are young. Also depressing and boring themes with repetition can put people off.
The type of music for example heavy metal/rock videos have to fit well with a good video, meaning having more extreme idea compared to having a slow video, with peaceful shots. Random videos, without meanings can be irritating and awful to watch sometimes, which ruins the song.
We found that the most features in a music video that would make it eye-catching would be these few points. Having beautiful scenery's, and brilliant story lines and narratives. The video could advertise new trends and styles, featuring famous stars. Interesting special effects, for example animation and stop motion animation. Other images of current issues and affairs portraying racism, sexism, abuse and messages of what are happening in the world. Videos that have moods and feelings also can influence viewers.
Narrative concept for a music video seemed to interest people we interviewed. They said that when there is narrative in the music video, it makes it interesting and easy to follow to enjoy. It gives the video a more dramatic feeling and if the video did have an important message that wanted to be carried out to viewers, for example the disadvantages of knife crime, drugs… it would bring a better approach and understanding for viewers, with the use of this concept. Having a mixture of performance and narration is good too, showing the best entertainment in a short period of time.
Overall form the information we gathered form both the questionnaires and interviews we had found that a majority of similar points where not so popular in a music video and performance based concepts where one of the main key aspects for entertainment in a music video.
Chaiya Varsani
Friday 6 November 2009
DVD cover of a hit bollywood movie "Om Shanti Om"
We really like the colours and the fonts used in this particular DVD because it gives a funky dance vibes so our DVD cover is also going to be similar to this.
We are going to split the digipak into four different sections:
- front cover, which will include the artist's name, song's title, production company logo and rating,
- spine, which will include the album/song title, DVD video logo,
- back cover, which will include list of things in the digipak, barcode, logos, ratings and quotes,
- and inside, which includes 3 pages of information and lyrics of the song - original and translated.
Nilima Thapa
PUNJABI MC- MUNDIAN TO BACH KE
Proposal/ Song idea no 1 and Class feedback
For our first proposal idea for this song we decided to have different shots with different people dancing to it, daily routines/everyday live catching the diseases of this music/beat when she walks around on purpose doing this. We researched and found that this video was not appropriate to use for our project, as it was well known, the artist Punjabi Mc had many hits in UK/europe and around the world, aslo this music video already had its personal video.
Two beginning ideas-
1) Eleanor or another person with an iPod, finds a song on whilst listening to it, comes up with this song. This is unusual for her to listen to this type of music, so she is surprised. A close up of the iPod with the name of that song and a crane from down to up of her facial expression.
2) Or we decide to have an old man in a hospital, with a heart beat, to show he’s dead “beep” as it begin to suddenly blend in with the beat and begging of the bhangra song starting, he wakes up quickly/alive.
• Whitmore high school (year 9) students do the same moves randomly in assembly.
• 3 girls do professional dancing, which then pans to Ray doing his dance moves (trying to copy)
• A person gets on the bus with the song out loud and the driver begins to dance/bop his head to the beat.
• Pub scene, 4-5 men drinking a pint of beer together in rhyme to the music/beat. Edited with fast forwards and reverse shots
• Break dancing moves, in slow motion… randomly boys dance whilst playing football?
• Church with dancing nuns and priests…
• A bored classroom as Eleanor appears in late (on purpose) to disrupt the class begin to get up and dance to the song.
Feedback from class
• People on the poster coming alive start dancing- Edited
• Too similar to Detroit music video
• Have a twist at the end when they all back to normal routines
• Narrative where is she going and why, what is the purpose
• Comedy concept video
• Theme? To elaborate on ideas towards that, for the video to make sense
• Good dancers
• Movium train for shooting train parts
• Maybe start of with a traditional Asian girl with Asian clothes
• Use editing suite whilst we edit for shots? Watching our filming and shots being edited…
Chaiya Varsani
Proposal/ Song idea no 1 and Class feedback
For our first proposal idea for this song we decided to have different shots with different people dancing to it, daily routines/everyday live catching the diseases of this music/beat when she walks around on purpose doing this. We researched and found that this video was not appropriate to use for our project, as it was well known, the artist Punjabi Mc had many hits in UK/europe and around the world, aslo this music video already had its personal video.
Two beginning ideas-
1) Eleanor or another person with an iPod, finds a song on whilst listening to it, comes up with this song. This is unusual for her to listen to this type of music, so she is surprised. A close up of the iPod with the name of that song and a crane from down to up of her facial expression.
2) Or we decide to have an old man in a hospital, with a heart beat, to show he’s dead “beep” as it begin to suddenly blend in with the beat and begging of the bhangra song starting, he wakes up quickly/alive.
• Whitmore high school (year 9) students do the same moves randomly in assembly.
• 3 girls do professional dancing, which then pans to Ray doing his dance moves (trying to copy)
• A person gets on the bus with the song out loud and the driver begins to dance/bop his head to the beat.
• Pub scene, 4-5 men drinking a pint of beer together in rhyme to the music/beat. Edited with fast forwards and reverse shots
• Break dancing moves, in slow motion… randomly boys dance whilst playing football?
• Church with dancing nuns and priests…
• A bored classroom as Eleanor appears in late (on purpose) to disrupt the class begin to get up and dance to the song.
Feedback from class
• People on the poster coming alive start dancing- Edited
• Too similar to Detroit music video
• Have a twist at the end when they all back to normal routines
• Narrative where is she going and why, what is the purpose
• Comedy concept video
• Theme? To elaborate on ideas towards that, for the video to make sense
• Good dancers
• Movium train for shooting train parts
• Maybe start of with a traditional Asian girl with Asian clothes
• Use editing suite whilst we edit for shots? Watching our filming and shots being edited…
Chaiya Varsani
Forms and Conventions
Short films made to actually showcase an artist emerged in the relatively early days of sound film making, some in cinema screening as part of a full programme of newsreel, cartoon and main feature but man as reels for early versions of the video jukebox.
Features
• Music videos demonstrate particular genre characteristics for example heavy metal bands, dance routines for boy/girl bands…
• There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
• Record label demands will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist(s)
• Artist may develop their own iconography
• There is frequently use of voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women, but also in terms of systems of looking (screens within screens, looking through cameras, binoculars)
• There are often intertexual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc)
Key elements
Genre styles
Some music videos can be easily categorised not all, music channels concentrate on particular music genres. You will be able to identify a range of distinct features which characterise the videos of different genres. They may be differentiated and reflects on the mise en scene, themes, performance, camera and editing styles…
Camerawork
Camera movement are used to make and create a more dynamic feel to stage performance, for example walking and dancing etc… but it can be used to create a dynamic feel to stage performance, for example circling the band as they perform or close us of band members when the dance or play and perform on stage… it also includes lots of close ups and lighting being used to focus on the star’s face.
Soundtrack
Music videos do not use a soundtrack other than the music and lyrics. Many include brief opening/ closing sequences with some dialogue and sound fx.
Editing
Although the most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast- cut montage, rendering many of the images. Some videos use slow place and gentler shot transition to establish mood. This is apparent for many female solo artists with a broad audience appeal. Editing with digital effects offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience. This might be from split screens, colourisation and, of course, the use of the Blockbuster film-style CGI special effects.
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene varies greatly in music videos, according to genre for example urban setting for rap, Rnb and hip-hop tracks compared to live mega stadium performances for rock bands. The more popular and bigger the artist/ stars the more expensive, exotic and impressive locations, settings, props, costumes and dance routines they will have featured in their routines.
Intertexuality
If we see music proms as frequently drawing upon existing texts in order to spark recognition in the audience, we have a working definition of intertexuality. Commentators see visual references in music video as coming from a range of sources, although the most frequent are perhaps cinema and fashion. Fashion intertexuality sometimes takes the form of specific catwalk references and even the use of supermodels.
Narrative and Performance
Narrative in songs, for example in poetry, is rarely complete and often fragmented.
Music videos can be performance, narrative or concept driven. Often music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. The same is true of music promos, which more often suggest story lines or offer complex fragmented of them in non – linear order. In doing this the music video leaves the viewer with the desire to see again if only to catch the bits missed on first viewing. A Steve archer puts it: “Often music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. Additionally a carefully choreographed dance might be a part of the artist’s performance or an extra aspect of the video designed to aid visualisation… Sometimes the artists (especially the singer) will be apart of the story, acting as a narrator and participant at the same time. The lip sync close up of the miming of playing instruments that remains at the heart of the music videos, as if assure the band really can kick it”.
Music videos allow the audience more varied access to the performer than a stage performance can. Eye contact and facial gestures via close up, role playing through the narrative and mise-en-scene will present the artist in a number of ways which would not be possible in a live concert.
The mise-en-scene may be used as a guarantee of what Simon Frith terms ‘authenticity’ as in the stage performance/use of rehearsal room by a band whose musical virtuosity is their main selling point. It can be important to a narrative-based video to establish setting and relationship to existing film or television genres. Equally it may be used as a part of the voyeuristic context by suggesting a setting associated with sexual allure, such as a sleazy nightclub or boudoir. Or finally, as John Stewart suggests, it may be used to emphasise an aspirational lifestyle for the audience, as in the current dominance of a future look with emphasis on the latest gadgets.
Other commentators have divided music videos in terms of style though often there will be crossover between these, part from performance and narrative, it is possible to identify six different terms, Gothic, Animated, Dreamscapes, Portraiture, Futuristic and Home Movie. Some camera shots are easily used in music videos for example close ups, allowing eye contact and close observation of facial gestures and role play, with narration.
Short films made to actually showcase an artist emerged in the relatively early days of sound film making, some in cinema screening as part of a full programme of newsreel, cartoon and main feature but man as reels for early versions of the video jukebox.
Features
• Music videos demonstrate particular genre characteristics for example heavy metal bands, dance routines for boy/girl bands…
• There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals (illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)
• Record label demands will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist(s)
• Artist may develop their own iconography
• There is frequently use of voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women, but also in terms of systems of looking (screens within screens, looking through cameras, binoculars)
• There are often intertexual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc)
Key elements
Genre styles
Some music videos can be easily categorised not all, music channels concentrate on particular music genres. You will be able to identify a range of distinct features which characterise the videos of different genres. They may be differentiated and reflects on the mise en scene, themes, performance, camera and editing styles…
Camerawork
Camera movement are used to make and create a more dynamic feel to stage performance, for example walking and dancing etc… but it can be used to create a dynamic feel to stage performance, for example circling the band as they perform or close us of band members when the dance or play and perform on stage… it also includes lots of close ups and lighting being used to focus on the star’s face.
Soundtrack
Music videos do not use a soundtrack other than the music and lyrics. Many include brief opening/ closing sequences with some dialogue and sound fx.
Editing
Although the most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast- cut montage, rendering many of the images. Some videos use slow place and gentler shot transition to establish mood. This is apparent for many female solo artists with a broad audience appeal. Editing with digital effects offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience. This might be from split screens, colourisation and, of course, the use of the Blockbuster film-style CGI special effects.
Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene varies greatly in music videos, according to genre for example urban setting for rap, Rnb and hip-hop tracks compared to live mega stadium performances for rock bands. The more popular and bigger the artist/ stars the more expensive, exotic and impressive locations, settings, props, costumes and dance routines they will have featured in their routines.
Intertexuality
If we see music proms as frequently drawing upon existing texts in order to spark recognition in the audience, we have a working definition of intertexuality. Commentators see visual references in music video as coming from a range of sources, although the most frequent are perhaps cinema and fashion. Fashion intertexuality sometimes takes the form of specific catwalk references and even the use of supermodels.
Narrative and Performance
Narrative in songs, for example in poetry, is rarely complete and often fragmented.
Music videos can be performance, narrative or concept driven. Often music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. The same is true of music promos, which more often suggest story lines or offer complex fragmented of them in non – linear order. In doing this the music video leaves the viewer with the desire to see again if only to catch the bits missed on first viewing. A Steve archer puts it: “Often music videos will cut between a narrative and a performance of the song by the band. Additionally a carefully choreographed dance might be a part of the artist’s performance or an extra aspect of the video designed to aid visualisation… Sometimes the artists (especially the singer) will be apart of the story, acting as a narrator and participant at the same time. The lip sync close up of the miming of playing instruments that remains at the heart of the music videos, as if assure the band really can kick it”.
Music videos allow the audience more varied access to the performer than a stage performance can. Eye contact and facial gestures via close up, role playing through the narrative and mise-en-scene will present the artist in a number of ways which would not be possible in a live concert.
The mise-en-scene may be used as a guarantee of what Simon Frith terms ‘authenticity’ as in the stage performance/use of rehearsal room by a band whose musical virtuosity is their main selling point. It can be important to a narrative-based video to establish setting and relationship to existing film or television genres. Equally it may be used as a part of the voyeuristic context by suggesting a setting associated with sexual allure, such as a sleazy nightclub or boudoir. Or finally, as John Stewart suggests, it may be used to emphasise an aspirational lifestyle for the audience, as in the current dominance of a future look with emphasis on the latest gadgets.
Other commentators have divided music videos in terms of style though often there will be crossover between these, part from performance and narrative, it is possible to identify six different terms, Gothic, Animated, Dreamscapes, Portraiture, Futuristic and Home Movie. Some camera shots are easily used in music videos for example close ups, allowing eye contact and close observation of facial gestures and role play, with narration.
- Interview sources- How to study music videos from Andrew Goodwin's book: Dancing in the distraction Factory (Google, Wikipedia...)
Chaiya Varsani
Similar text Analysis
SIA- BREAHE ME
This video is by Sia Furle, (Australian pop singer)- “Breathe me”. The album is called “the machine says yes”. The music genre is mainly electronic. The track "Breathe Me" from the album gained attention when it was used in the elaborate final scene of the Six Feet Under series that aired in 2005.
The video is great, with smart ideas of many pictures being taken and left around an apartment, as she flips them making it a moving image from photographs, showing this video is mainly performance driven. The lyrics are strongly reflected on her past life, problems with drugs. As she says “Help, I have done it again, I have been here many times before, I hurt myself again today…” in the video she uses creative ideas wearing different clothes and doing different things. She wears different masks when she looks in the mirror and has others in her videos, friends family… she seems almost lost at times as she runs around the flat. The pictures are scattered everywhere in her route.
The relationship between the lyrics and music with the visuals show they are not really illustrated or amplified by the visuals. There are not any cuts just a flow of pictures flipped to make a sequence of her in the apartment, but sometimes they are just camera shots which have her picking up the pictures, to start changing to the next set. The lyrics are normally the same but the chorus is repeated a couple of times. The lyrics explain feelings and problems of drug use and how they affected her. Most of the video is fast forwarded and there are dissolved shots within the photograph, that then blend and fade out to make the image real again.
The mise-en-scene in this video allows the camera work to be mainly based around the woman in her flat covered with these photographs of the different scenes, where she sings and does different things… also close up of the different pictures and pans of different shots. The video represents the artist by showing her in the video, in the different shots and pictures, which represent her self and her lyrics explaining her past issues.
Looking at voyeurism of the woman in this video is not seen as sexually as it is about her struggles in life and she wears normal clothes. This video is mainly performance and concept based. Overall I feel this music video is unique and interesting although it may link to the lyrics and may have a hidden message across the purpose of the idea of having these images as memories perhaps (as it shows other people in it once) and the lyrics with a meaning to the bad times in her life. Other people opinions on this video are the song is really nice and touching, the editing and stop animation motion effect with the photos were great and looked expensive, but the ending was hard to understand as it didn’t go with the lyrics.
Chaiya Varsani
FC KAHUNA- HAYLING
This video is by FC Kahuna- Hayling (promo) the album is called “the machine says yes”. It is directed by Johnny Hardstuff and produced by John Payne. The production of the music video by Black Dog films and post production by The Mill. It features Icelandic singer- Hafdis Huldon vocals. The music genre is dance and electronic.
The video heavily draws on the rhythm and studio techniques of FC Kahnunas beats, with robotic vocals/canned electro beats. Machines appearing out of the piano and a woman, who also see is robotic, looking, which is shown at then end with the effects on her, and as she slowly dies out. She almost looks like a wind up doll/ human who is turned to play this music and start machines appearing out of the piano. The robotic effects link with the electronic music/ vocals.
The relationship between the lyrics and music with the visuals show they are not really illustrated or amplified by the visuals. There isn’t any cut to the beat shots and solo instrumental parts aren’t illustrated with the video, as it’s mainly electronic dance type music, with a piano. Only one key is played on the piano which is heard in the music background. Only the woman is singing to the repetitive lyrics with the background music and beats. The shot focuses on the machines appearing slowly out of the piano. The lyrics explain feelings of someone or some fear, as there are pictures shown on the piano and also parts of the machine may represent something they fear too, which she ignores, which would also be seen as an ideological message that is conveyed in this video. The piano animates (CGI), with these unusual machines coming out of it, at the end the machine is almost seen as being sexual as it extends towards the woman’s skirt. The girl sings these repeated lyrics “Don’t think about all those things you fear, just be glad to be here”
The use of an abstract mise-en-scene in this video allows the camera work mainly to circle around the woman and the piano with close ups of her face whilst she sings… also close ups of the different machine structures appearing out of the piano. There are couple of worm’s eye view shots and cranes shots of the piano and the woman. This video is edited with a slow-motion feel. The piano is set on a huge light box, towards the end there are some coloured lights, the lighting effects are reflected of her face. The video represents the artist/ band by showing
Looking at voyeurism the woman wears a green skirt and a corset type top almost fairy like, that represents feminism, but as usual showing a lot of flesh on a woman, which means she is still represented quiet sexually but not as much and not as obvious. Also she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup.
I feel that this video is mainly performance and concept based. Overall I like this music video because it is unique and interesting although it may link to the lyrics having a hidden message across the purpose of the idea of having machines appearing out of the piano and the woman there too. Other people’s opinions on this video showed the music video as being confusing the music is nice but the narrative is not clear on what they are trying to tell us. Even if it is watched many times its hard to follow the concept. The animated CGI effects are great though and how she is represented with her fairy clothes. There was this contrast with the fairly look and the mechanical piano, which is the contrast of traditional and modern.
Researching this video I found from Wikipedia, that the sound track is used for many different Films, TV programs and even games:
Film:
• Confidence
• Layer Cake
• Riding Giants
• Love is the Drug
Television:
• Fastlane (TV Series Soundtrack)
• CSI: Miami (TV Series Soundtrack)
• Monkey Dust
• Top Gear
• University Challenge: The Professionals
• Nip/Tuck (TV Series Soundtrack)
• Keen Eddie episode titled "Eddie Loves Baseball"
• Hotel Babylon
• The O.C.
• Six Feet Under (Season 3, Episode 35: "The Opening")
• Commercial for Pantene Pro-V Shampoo
Games:
• NFS Underground
• Crackdown
Chaiya Varsani
NOTORIOUS BIG- SKY IS THE LIMIT
This music video is called “Sky is the limit” by Notorious B.I.G. The video is directed by Dir. Spike Jonze. It is a hip hop/rap song and like almost every hip hop music video, this video represents the artist as a very important person who is loaded with lots of money, girls and of course an expensive car. The video is a mixture of narrative and performance.
The song starts with a voice over announcing the singer on to a stage. This is demonstrated in the music video by a kid making an entrance from his mansion’s door just when the name of the artist is being called out. This illustrates that the kid is representing the artist – Notorious B.I.G. Most of the time, the kid representing the artist is lip-syncing to the song. The lyrics are not being illustrated in the video much but as he is talking about how he used to be nothing and now he is a high class person, he is showing off his rich lifestyle.
There are a lot of close-ups and medium shots of the kid, lip-synching to the song. It’s very realistic and he is acting very passionate towards the lyrics which make the video more appealing. This is also following conventions of hip hop music videos.
The video starts by a close up shot of a Mercedes car and an establishing shot of a huge house that looks like a millionaire’s mansion. Then it cut to shots of a security camera, all connoting that the owner is rich. In all of the shots the artist/kid is wearing as hip hop people would call it “blings” like gold chains and big gold rings. The kid is dressed in similar ways as a gangster dress i.e. suit, sun glasses and also driving expensive cars, living in a huge mansion, obviously connoting that he is the boss of a dangerous gang. There are also various shots of the kid in different part of the mansion like his huge bed and sometimes in his swimming pool. He is shown to be a V.I.P. because he has bodyguards and security cameras in his house and he has got fans screaming his name and paparazzi trying to get a snap of him in shots later. There is a low angle shot of him when he comes out of the car to go to the party which makes him look powerful and almighty. He has even got a right hand man who is constantly by his side and even at the end he is posing with him. When he gets to the party, there is a wide shot which shows everyone trying to grab him or reach him because he is a huge celebrity. Everyone’s eyes are on him which emphasises his importance. There are lot of rich colours used like gold, black and red and everything is shiny and classy. Everything looks expensive and luxurious.
The camera is rarely still. Most of the camera keeps panning or zooming in and out and the shots dissolve from one to another which goes with the music as it sounds flawless because the lyrics keeps going on especially during the chorus. At the start, when the artists name is being announced, the video is slow motioned which kind of captures the moment so to establish the main star.
Like in most of hip hop music videos, there are sexual displays of women, girls in this case like shots of the main character in the pool, there are girls in their swim suit dancing in the background and also in the party scene the girls are wearing red clothes and putting on red lipstick. However, the video does not facilitate a voyeuristic response in spectators because they would see it as children and not the same as women. Some people might think it’s unethical to portray the girls in that way while others might praise the children for very good performances.
This music video relates to similar ideas of the movie “Bugsy Malone” which is also a movie with kid actors/actresses representing adult characters. The movie is also about gangsters and it is a musical.
“Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
What you want, pressin what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
What you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want”
The chorus of the song is inspirational and the video shows what you can get to if you try hard. However, the rest of the lyrics is not so inspirational and more of misleading to young boys and girls because it is promoting a positive view on gangsters.
Thus, in my opinion, the directing is very good and the performance too but the concept of the video is questionable.
Nilima Thapa
APHEX TWIN- COME TO DADDY
This video is called “come to daddy”, music by Aphex Twin. It is directed by Dir. Chris Cunningham. It’s electro music.
The music starts with slow industrial sound so there are long establishing shots of the setting. It’s already giving a creepy feeling about the video. An old lady and her dog are in focus. There is also something or someone luring in the dark spying on her which gives a thrill to the audience. We know there is something because there is an over the shoulder shot of someone looking at the old lady and the dog and another close up shot of someone’s legs. As the dog pees on the television that is amongst the garbage outside the state building, we can hear an incidental music of a TV tuning in and this is when the TV turns on and the lyrics starts and the beat is faster as well so the shots cuts quicker which creates even more tense atmosphere. There are shots reverse shots of the dog, the TV and the old lady which cuts quickly to create tension as the dog is barking at the TV and the TV is chanting the lyrics. The dog barking at the TV connotes that the TV is a bad sign and is dangerous. The face is saying “I want your soul, I need your soul” constantly which makes the old lady scared. There are medium and close up shots of the old lady so we could see her reaction and body language which is obviously scared and frightened. As she runs inside the building, a gang of children with their head similar to the face on the TV runs outside and the old lady gets terrified. The children are being called for by the TV. There are shots reverse shots from the TV to the children to show that the children are running towards him and he is calling them.
The video cuts to the beat of the music. For example the shots are short and cuts quickly to the music but it changes and the shots are longer when the music suddenly changes to a child singing which sounds like a lullaby. Come to daddy contains only 3, 4 lines of lyrics which are repeated several times and sounds like a ritual. Most of the time, the lyrics are lip-synched by a face in the television screen in close-up shots.
I think the video is based on a view that media promotes violence. The TV connotes media as a whole. The dog barking at the TV connotes that it’s dangerous hence the director is saying that media is a dangerous thing. The head of the children looks like the face of the evil inside the TV to connote that the children have been influenced by the media. The TV keeps saying “I want your soul, I need your soul” this connotes that the TV is an object and feeding on our soul because it wants one for itself. The TV keeps saying the lines like a ritual or a subliminal message, the media is brain washing its audience. There is a shot towards the end where the evil looks like a godly/fatherly figure for the children when they surround him and look up to him and the evil is also referring himself as their “daddy”. This connotes that we worship and follow the media as if it’s God. I think the old lady and the guy are there to represent older generation and their view point of the media. The old lady was more frightened than the guy because she is much older and television and media seems new and alien to their generation. At the end a man is born out of the TV because he has been given a soul which connotes that media is merely a representation of real things but we, the audience give it so much attention and importance that it has become the real thing.
Some viewers might say that it is very thoughtful and intellectual music video and is portraying the current issue which makes it very good. However, some viewers might say it is not a good music video because it has violent scenes and children acting in violent way and the head of the children replaced by the artist’s head is disturbing. The older generation are shown weak and helpless.
In my opinion, the video is very disturbing but also very clever in the way it sends the message about media influencing, taking over our life.
Nilima Thapa
CHRISTINA AGUILERA- HURT
The music video begins in black and white film with a circus taking place back in the olden days. The music playing is bubbly and circus stereotyped and is like an introduction to her song because this isn’t actually the real song. This introduction is setting the story and hinting the plot. The camera is panning the circus and showing different people doing different tricks. In the editing they have made the clip go faster as if the people were all being fast forwarded. As this is showing a voiceover is presenting over the clip.
The whole atmosphere then changes to Christina behind the scenes of a circus sitting in front of a dressing mirror in colour connoting the present. This change then identifies that she was reminiscing about something in the past. The music then changes from the circus to slow calm piano, indicating the song is about to begin. As she is sitting there, there are people around fanning themselves and getting ready for their show. All the woman are wearing thrilly type dresses with over exaggerated make-up along with the men who are wearing black suits and white foundation connoting clowns. The scene is lit up dimly with the only light coming from her dressing mirror. There is a close up of her as the music starts becoming thicker the camera is moving out slowly giving us a peak of the action going on around her and distancing the performer from the viewers.
This part of the music video is representing the older generation to be show people and circus orientated.
A man wearing black approaches her and gives her an envelope – black conotating something dark and mysterious. As he was reaching out to give her the envelope it becomes a mid- shot putting emphasis on the fact there’s something important in the envelope. She reads the telegraph and a new scene comes up. It’s a shot of Christina sitting in the middle of an empty circus area on a neatly presented hay stack. She is sitting there remembering the time when her and her father first went there together. The scene then gets darker and becomes sepia toned connoting unhappiness. It’s a long shot with light coming through a window giving it an angelic feel, as to say she’s going to heaven. Christina is the star image of the entire video as everywhere she is present there is also a light source coming from her direction.
Throughout the whole video it’s of Christina’s memories of her dad therefore she is singing and shots intercutting of that memory.
Eleanor Folivi
MICHAEL JACKSON- BLACK OR WHITE
The beginning of the song has a sequel of an annoyed father telling his son to stop playing loud music. The father keeps getting angrier and angrier which makes the son get more mischievous. The son then plugs 2 hugely sized speakers in the living room plugs it into his electric guitar and turns the knob to ‘you must be nuts’. After he does this he plays one note on the guitar.
The song then starts with a bird’s eye view of a man in a sofa flying over the world. This then changes to a long shot of this bizarre image so we see him actually going around as to say he is orbiting the earth. After this it cuts to a mother and son looking at a hole in their roof in birds eye view. This Looks like a typical mother and son in this opening scene.
After this the scene cuts straight into a beautiful African landscape. All sunny and sandy, it tracks around the trees and wildlife slowly but pausing slightly on a lion which sends out a loud roar connoting danger.
Stereotypical African men wearing nothing but a cloth around their privates and paint on their faces and bodies stand around are all holding spears. There is then a mid shot of them walking towards the lion’s connoting hunting and bravery as they get closer and closer.
The man in the sofa who was just orbiting the earth then lands behind this scenery where the camera then zooms into his facial expression showing disbelief as well as anxiety and confusion. He is wearing a shirt and trousers sitting an ordinary seat which is completely out of the ordinary given the situation. The camera then snaps back to Michael Jackson the lead singer with this tribe who are doing a dance routine. Everything in this scene is wonderful, light and summery with only Michael Jackson wearing a white shirt, one bandage on an arm, black trousers with black tap shoes. The camera then tracks left into another scene which has changed from Africa to a grey set with Chinese woman dancers around Michael Jackson. The Chinese women look cute and friendly as they are smiling. They are wearing traditional clothing with a simple backdrop of just grey behind them. The camera remains in the same place changing from mid to a close shot of Michael Jackson.
Then scene then superimposes into red Indians around Michael Jackson in some sort of desert. The red Indians are wearing traditional clothes with painted faces of red stripes around their eyes. They are the stereotypical red Indians with long hair, long earrings made out of bird feathers. They are around Michael creating chaos on horses as well as on foot dancing about. Some of them are shouting to the sky and ground co notating violence and aggression. The camera is constantly cutting to individual red Indians in this scene. Showing there facial expressions and letting us know as an audience what there feeling.
An American bus then speeds pass changing the scene to an industrial place with feathers and smoke coming out of chimneys. Cars are passing through as an Asian woman dances in the middle of the road with Michael Jackson wearing her traditional outfit with an excited expression on her face connoting notating confidence. There is a bird’s eye view which helps us establish she is in the middle of a road in a huge city.
Snow begins to fall on this scene connoting winter but changes into Russia where 6 men wearing red trousers, black boots and patterned tops do a Russian dance routine with Michael joining in. The camera remains static as this happens. There is like a village like scenery.
A hand then appears to pick up the scene as if we were watching a close up of the Christmas ball. This was certainly done in editing along with Michael Jackson walking towards the camera in fire background. This looks much edited as if they were cut out from another backdrop. As he puts his right arm up shouting ahhh. The scene changes again to kids on a street wall in gangster clothes wearing era caps, sunglasses and bling. Acting in a stereotypical street manner. A blonde boy in front of the rest connoting leadership lip sync a rap before being joined by Michael.
The last scene is the camera staying static as one face changes to different races, sexes and ages as if they were evolving.
The message in the whole of the song was it doesn’t matter about your race.
We know this because in the chorus Michael repeatedly sings “It don’t matter if you’re black or white”
Eleanor Folivi
This video is by Sia Furle, (Australian pop singer)- “Breathe me”. The album is called “the machine says yes”. The music genre is mainly electronic. The track "Breathe Me" from the album gained attention when it was used in the elaborate final scene of the Six Feet Under series that aired in 2005.
The video is great, with smart ideas of many pictures being taken and left around an apartment, as she flips them making it a moving image from photographs, showing this video is mainly performance driven. The lyrics are strongly reflected on her past life, problems with drugs. As she says “Help, I have done it again, I have been here many times before, I hurt myself again today…” in the video she uses creative ideas wearing different clothes and doing different things. She wears different masks when she looks in the mirror and has others in her videos, friends family… she seems almost lost at times as she runs around the flat. The pictures are scattered everywhere in her route.
The relationship between the lyrics and music with the visuals show they are not really illustrated or amplified by the visuals. There are not any cuts just a flow of pictures flipped to make a sequence of her in the apartment, but sometimes they are just camera shots which have her picking up the pictures, to start changing to the next set. The lyrics are normally the same but the chorus is repeated a couple of times. The lyrics explain feelings and problems of drug use and how they affected her. Most of the video is fast forwarded and there are dissolved shots within the photograph, that then blend and fade out to make the image real again.
The mise-en-scene in this video allows the camera work to be mainly based around the woman in her flat covered with these photographs of the different scenes, where she sings and does different things… also close up of the different pictures and pans of different shots. The video represents the artist by showing her in the video, in the different shots and pictures, which represent her self and her lyrics explaining her past issues.
Looking at voyeurism of the woman in this video is not seen as sexually as it is about her struggles in life and she wears normal clothes. This video is mainly performance and concept based. Overall I feel this music video is unique and interesting although it may link to the lyrics and may have a hidden message across the purpose of the idea of having these images as memories perhaps (as it shows other people in it once) and the lyrics with a meaning to the bad times in her life. Other people opinions on this video are the song is really nice and touching, the editing and stop animation motion effect with the photos were great and looked expensive, but the ending was hard to understand as it didn’t go with the lyrics.
Chaiya Varsani
FC KAHUNA- HAYLING
This video is by FC Kahuna- Hayling (promo) the album is called “the machine says yes”. It is directed by Johnny Hardstuff and produced by John Payne. The production of the music video by Black Dog films and post production by The Mill. It features Icelandic singer- Hafdis Huldon vocals. The music genre is dance and electronic.
The video heavily draws on the rhythm and studio techniques of FC Kahnunas beats, with robotic vocals/canned electro beats. Machines appearing out of the piano and a woman, who also see is robotic, looking, which is shown at then end with the effects on her, and as she slowly dies out. She almost looks like a wind up doll/ human who is turned to play this music and start machines appearing out of the piano. The robotic effects link with the electronic music/ vocals.
The relationship between the lyrics and music with the visuals show they are not really illustrated or amplified by the visuals. There isn’t any cut to the beat shots and solo instrumental parts aren’t illustrated with the video, as it’s mainly electronic dance type music, with a piano. Only one key is played on the piano which is heard in the music background. Only the woman is singing to the repetitive lyrics with the background music and beats. The shot focuses on the machines appearing slowly out of the piano. The lyrics explain feelings of someone or some fear, as there are pictures shown on the piano and also parts of the machine may represent something they fear too, which she ignores, which would also be seen as an ideological message that is conveyed in this video. The piano animates (CGI), with these unusual machines coming out of it, at the end the machine is almost seen as being sexual as it extends towards the woman’s skirt. The girl sings these repeated lyrics “Don’t think about all those things you fear, just be glad to be here”
The use of an abstract mise-en-scene in this video allows the camera work mainly to circle around the woman and the piano with close ups of her face whilst she sings… also close ups of the different machine structures appearing out of the piano. There are couple of worm’s eye view shots and cranes shots of the piano and the woman. This video is edited with a slow-motion feel. The piano is set on a huge light box, towards the end there are some coloured lights, the lighting effects are reflected of her face. The video represents the artist/ band by showing
Looking at voyeurism the woman wears a green skirt and a corset type top almost fairy like, that represents feminism, but as usual showing a lot of flesh on a woman, which means she is still represented quiet sexually but not as much and not as obvious. Also she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup.
I feel that this video is mainly performance and concept based. Overall I like this music video because it is unique and interesting although it may link to the lyrics having a hidden message across the purpose of the idea of having machines appearing out of the piano and the woman there too. Other people’s opinions on this video showed the music video as being confusing the music is nice but the narrative is not clear on what they are trying to tell us. Even if it is watched many times its hard to follow the concept. The animated CGI effects are great though and how she is represented with her fairy clothes. There was this contrast with the fairly look and the mechanical piano, which is the contrast of traditional and modern.
Researching this video I found from Wikipedia, that the sound track is used for many different Films, TV programs and even games:
Film:
• Confidence
• Layer Cake
• Riding Giants
• Love is the Drug
Television:
• Fastlane (TV Series Soundtrack)
• CSI: Miami (TV Series Soundtrack)
• Monkey Dust
• Top Gear
• University Challenge: The Professionals
• Nip/Tuck (TV Series Soundtrack)
• Keen Eddie episode titled "Eddie Loves Baseball"
• Hotel Babylon
• The O.C.
• Six Feet Under (Season 3, Episode 35: "The Opening")
• Commercial for Pantene Pro-V Shampoo
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Chaiya Varsani
NOTORIOUS BIG- SKY IS THE LIMIT
This music video is called “Sky is the limit” by Notorious B.I.G. The video is directed by Dir. Spike Jonze. It is a hip hop/rap song and like almost every hip hop music video, this video represents the artist as a very important person who is loaded with lots of money, girls and of course an expensive car. The video is a mixture of narrative and performance.
The song starts with a voice over announcing the singer on to a stage. This is demonstrated in the music video by a kid making an entrance from his mansion’s door just when the name of the artist is being called out. This illustrates that the kid is representing the artist – Notorious B.I.G. Most of the time, the kid representing the artist is lip-syncing to the song. The lyrics are not being illustrated in the video much but as he is talking about how he used to be nothing and now he is a high class person, he is showing off his rich lifestyle.
There are a lot of close-ups and medium shots of the kid, lip-synching to the song. It’s very realistic and he is acting very passionate towards the lyrics which make the video more appealing. This is also following conventions of hip hop music videos.
The video starts by a close up shot of a Mercedes car and an establishing shot of a huge house that looks like a millionaire’s mansion. Then it cut to shots of a security camera, all connoting that the owner is rich. In all of the shots the artist/kid is wearing as hip hop people would call it “blings” like gold chains and big gold rings. The kid is dressed in similar ways as a gangster dress i.e. suit, sun glasses and also driving expensive cars, living in a huge mansion, obviously connoting that he is the boss of a dangerous gang. There are also various shots of the kid in different part of the mansion like his huge bed and sometimes in his swimming pool. He is shown to be a V.I.P. because he has bodyguards and security cameras in his house and he has got fans screaming his name and paparazzi trying to get a snap of him in shots later. There is a low angle shot of him when he comes out of the car to go to the party which makes him look powerful and almighty. He has even got a right hand man who is constantly by his side and even at the end he is posing with him. When he gets to the party, there is a wide shot which shows everyone trying to grab him or reach him because he is a huge celebrity. Everyone’s eyes are on him which emphasises his importance. There are lot of rich colours used like gold, black and red and everything is shiny and classy. Everything looks expensive and luxurious.
The camera is rarely still. Most of the camera keeps panning or zooming in and out and the shots dissolve from one to another which goes with the music as it sounds flawless because the lyrics keeps going on especially during the chorus. At the start, when the artists name is being announced, the video is slow motioned which kind of captures the moment so to establish the main star.
Like in most of hip hop music videos, there are sexual displays of women, girls in this case like shots of the main character in the pool, there are girls in their swim suit dancing in the background and also in the party scene the girls are wearing red clothes and putting on red lipstick. However, the video does not facilitate a voyeuristic response in spectators because they would see it as children and not the same as women. Some people might think it’s unethical to portray the girls in that way while others might praise the children for very good performances.
This music video relates to similar ideas of the movie “Bugsy Malone” which is also a movie with kid actors/actresses representing adult characters. The movie is also about gangsters and it is a musical.
“Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
What you want, pressin what you want
Sky is the limit and you know that you keep on
Just keep on pressin on
Sky is the limit and you know that you can have
What you want, be what you want, have what you want, be what you want”
The chorus of the song is inspirational and the video shows what you can get to if you try hard. However, the rest of the lyrics is not so inspirational and more of misleading to young boys and girls because it is promoting a positive view on gangsters.
Thus, in my opinion, the directing is very good and the performance too but the concept of the video is questionable.
Nilima Thapa
APHEX TWIN- COME TO DADDY
This video is called “come to daddy”, music by Aphex Twin. It is directed by Dir. Chris Cunningham. It’s electro music.
The music starts with slow industrial sound so there are long establishing shots of the setting. It’s already giving a creepy feeling about the video. An old lady and her dog are in focus. There is also something or someone luring in the dark spying on her which gives a thrill to the audience. We know there is something because there is an over the shoulder shot of someone looking at the old lady and the dog and another close up shot of someone’s legs. As the dog pees on the television that is amongst the garbage outside the state building, we can hear an incidental music of a TV tuning in and this is when the TV turns on and the lyrics starts and the beat is faster as well so the shots cuts quicker which creates even more tense atmosphere. There are shots reverse shots of the dog, the TV and the old lady which cuts quickly to create tension as the dog is barking at the TV and the TV is chanting the lyrics. The dog barking at the TV connotes that the TV is a bad sign and is dangerous. The face is saying “I want your soul, I need your soul” constantly which makes the old lady scared. There are medium and close up shots of the old lady so we could see her reaction and body language which is obviously scared and frightened. As she runs inside the building, a gang of children with their head similar to the face on the TV runs outside and the old lady gets terrified. The children are being called for by the TV. There are shots reverse shots from the TV to the children to show that the children are running towards him and he is calling them.
The video cuts to the beat of the music. For example the shots are short and cuts quickly to the music but it changes and the shots are longer when the music suddenly changes to a child singing which sounds like a lullaby. Come to daddy contains only 3, 4 lines of lyrics which are repeated several times and sounds like a ritual. Most of the time, the lyrics are lip-synched by a face in the television screen in close-up shots.
I think the video is based on a view that media promotes violence. The TV connotes media as a whole. The dog barking at the TV connotes that it’s dangerous hence the director is saying that media is a dangerous thing. The head of the children looks like the face of the evil inside the TV to connote that the children have been influenced by the media. The TV keeps saying “I want your soul, I need your soul” this connotes that the TV is an object and feeding on our soul because it wants one for itself. The TV keeps saying the lines like a ritual or a subliminal message, the media is brain washing its audience. There is a shot towards the end where the evil looks like a godly/fatherly figure for the children when they surround him and look up to him and the evil is also referring himself as their “daddy”. This connotes that we worship and follow the media as if it’s God. I think the old lady and the guy are there to represent older generation and their view point of the media. The old lady was more frightened than the guy because she is much older and television and media seems new and alien to their generation. At the end a man is born out of the TV because he has been given a soul which connotes that media is merely a representation of real things but we, the audience give it so much attention and importance that it has become the real thing.
Some viewers might say that it is very thoughtful and intellectual music video and is portraying the current issue which makes it very good. However, some viewers might say it is not a good music video because it has violent scenes and children acting in violent way and the head of the children replaced by the artist’s head is disturbing. The older generation are shown weak and helpless.
In my opinion, the video is very disturbing but also very clever in the way it sends the message about media influencing, taking over our life.
Nilima Thapa
CHRISTINA AGUILERA- HURT
The music video begins in black and white film with a circus taking place back in the olden days. The music playing is bubbly and circus stereotyped and is like an introduction to her song because this isn’t actually the real song. This introduction is setting the story and hinting the plot. The camera is panning the circus and showing different people doing different tricks. In the editing they have made the clip go faster as if the people were all being fast forwarded. As this is showing a voiceover is presenting over the clip.
The whole atmosphere then changes to Christina behind the scenes of a circus sitting in front of a dressing mirror in colour connoting the present. This change then identifies that she was reminiscing about something in the past. The music then changes from the circus to slow calm piano, indicating the song is about to begin. As she is sitting there, there are people around fanning themselves and getting ready for their show. All the woman are wearing thrilly type dresses with over exaggerated make-up along with the men who are wearing black suits and white foundation connoting clowns. The scene is lit up dimly with the only light coming from her dressing mirror. There is a close up of her as the music starts becoming thicker the camera is moving out slowly giving us a peak of the action going on around her and distancing the performer from the viewers.
This part of the music video is representing the older generation to be show people and circus orientated.
A man wearing black approaches her and gives her an envelope – black conotating something dark and mysterious. As he was reaching out to give her the envelope it becomes a mid- shot putting emphasis on the fact there’s something important in the envelope. She reads the telegraph and a new scene comes up. It’s a shot of Christina sitting in the middle of an empty circus area on a neatly presented hay stack. She is sitting there remembering the time when her and her father first went there together. The scene then gets darker and becomes sepia toned connoting unhappiness. It’s a long shot with light coming through a window giving it an angelic feel, as to say she’s going to heaven. Christina is the star image of the entire video as everywhere she is present there is also a light source coming from her direction.
Throughout the whole video it’s of Christina’s memories of her dad therefore she is singing and shots intercutting of that memory.
Eleanor Folivi
MICHAEL JACKSON- BLACK OR WHITE
The beginning of the song has a sequel of an annoyed father telling his son to stop playing loud music. The father keeps getting angrier and angrier which makes the son get more mischievous. The son then plugs 2 hugely sized speakers in the living room plugs it into his electric guitar and turns the knob to ‘you must be nuts’. After he does this he plays one note on the guitar.
The song then starts with a bird’s eye view of a man in a sofa flying over the world. This then changes to a long shot of this bizarre image so we see him actually going around as to say he is orbiting the earth. After this it cuts to a mother and son looking at a hole in their roof in birds eye view. This Looks like a typical mother and son in this opening scene.
After this the scene cuts straight into a beautiful African landscape. All sunny and sandy, it tracks around the trees and wildlife slowly but pausing slightly on a lion which sends out a loud roar connoting danger.
Stereotypical African men wearing nothing but a cloth around their privates and paint on their faces and bodies stand around are all holding spears. There is then a mid shot of them walking towards the lion’s connoting hunting and bravery as they get closer and closer.
The man in the sofa who was just orbiting the earth then lands behind this scenery where the camera then zooms into his facial expression showing disbelief as well as anxiety and confusion. He is wearing a shirt and trousers sitting an ordinary seat which is completely out of the ordinary given the situation. The camera then snaps back to Michael Jackson the lead singer with this tribe who are doing a dance routine. Everything in this scene is wonderful, light and summery with only Michael Jackson wearing a white shirt, one bandage on an arm, black trousers with black tap shoes. The camera then tracks left into another scene which has changed from Africa to a grey set with Chinese woman dancers around Michael Jackson. The Chinese women look cute and friendly as they are smiling. They are wearing traditional clothing with a simple backdrop of just grey behind them. The camera remains in the same place changing from mid to a close shot of Michael Jackson.
Then scene then superimposes into red Indians around Michael Jackson in some sort of desert. The red Indians are wearing traditional clothes with painted faces of red stripes around their eyes. They are the stereotypical red Indians with long hair, long earrings made out of bird feathers. They are around Michael creating chaos on horses as well as on foot dancing about. Some of them are shouting to the sky and ground co notating violence and aggression. The camera is constantly cutting to individual red Indians in this scene. Showing there facial expressions and letting us know as an audience what there feeling.
An American bus then speeds pass changing the scene to an industrial place with feathers and smoke coming out of chimneys. Cars are passing through as an Asian woman dances in the middle of the road with Michael Jackson wearing her traditional outfit with an excited expression on her face connoting notating confidence. There is a bird’s eye view which helps us establish she is in the middle of a road in a huge city.
Snow begins to fall on this scene connoting winter but changes into Russia where 6 men wearing red trousers, black boots and patterned tops do a Russian dance routine with Michael joining in. The camera remains static as this happens. There is like a village like scenery.
A hand then appears to pick up the scene as if we were watching a close up of the Christmas ball. This was certainly done in editing along with Michael Jackson walking towards the camera in fire background. This looks much edited as if they were cut out from another backdrop. As he puts his right arm up shouting ahhh. The scene changes again to kids on a street wall in gangster clothes wearing era caps, sunglasses and bling. Acting in a stereotypical street manner. A blonde boy in front of the rest connoting leadership lip sync a rap before being joined by Michael.
The last scene is the camera staying static as one face changes to different races, sexes and ages as if they were evolving.
The message in the whole of the song was it doesn’t matter about your race.
We know this because in the chorus Michael repeatedly sings “It don’t matter if you’re black or white”
Eleanor Folivi
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